The DHL Stormers gave themselves a lifeline with an impressive 40-0 thrashing of English team Sale Sharks in Cape Town, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ hopes of a qualification place took a dent in going down 20-8 to defending champions Toulouse in Durban.

Both sides have a chance of qualifying if they can win their fourth round games - both away from home in France - this coming weekend, to ensure South African participation in the Round of 16.

The task is a massive one though as the DHL Stormers will travel to Paris to face Racing 92 in their final pool match, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks head to Bordeaux-Begles in another epic match-up to try and ensure qualification.

But the story of the weekend was the Lazarus performance of the DHL Stormers, who fielded a young backline, but welcomed back several stars from injury and were way too clinical for the English side.

The flair that has often been missing this season for the Capetonians has returned, led by the mercurial Warrick Gelant, as the hosts kept their opposition scoreless through some massive defensive plays and then used their magic on attack to score six tries without reply on a perfect day at the DHL Stadium.

The DHL Stormers sit on five points alongside two other teams with Racing 92 one point below them on four. Glasgow Warriors and Toulon have already qualified, leaving the other four teams to fight it out for the two places on offer.

DHL Stormers coach John Dobson wasn’t going to be overawed by the task at hand, and enthusiastically leaned into the prospect of a big clash in Paris.

“We’ll go for it next week – we have to – there’s not one game we won’t,” Dobson said.

“We might have a look at a few guys because the following week it’s Leinster in Dublin (in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship), so we will maybe look at resting some players who’ve gone through the whole summer series with high workloads.

“But there’s no doubt when we’re on the field next week at La Defense we’ll be going for it, no question. Either playing for a place in the Challenge Cup or a place in the last 16.

“We pride ourselves that in every competition we’ve been in as a group, we’ve made the playoffs and we’ll be absolutely determined.”

The Hollywoodbets Sharks, who were without in-form Springboks Eben Etzebeth, Andre Esterhuizen and Aphelele Fassi, never really troubled the French giants, who are on course for a seventh star in the competition they love dominating.

Afterwards, John Plumtree was glowing about the French team, saying it's clear that they are a “class outfit”.

“Just the way they can apply pressure not just through their defence and set piece, but their continuity play, attack and the ability to keep the ball alive is what makes them so dangerous,” said Plumtree.

“We just couldn’t hold on to the ball for long enough to apply the pressure that we needed to.”

The Hollywoodbets Sharks need just one bonus point to qualify, and will be looking to do that against a rampant Bordeaux-Begles, who beat Exeter 69-17 away from home in an eye-raising result.

Elsewhere, the Vodacom Bulls hopes of qualification were extinguished by a massive late surge by French side Castres, who took a 16-10 lead on 60 minutes and turned it into a 49-10 thrashing by full-time.

For Jake White this weekend’s final match against Stade Francais at Loftus Versfeld will either be for a place in the Challenge Cup, or to exit both competitions altogether as they cannot still qualify for the playoffs in the elite competition.

Irish giants Leinster won an epic battle against Ronan O’Gara’s Stade Rochelais, with former Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber’s defensive system powering them to a 16-14 victory in dramatic circumstances.

Antoine Hastoy missed a long range penalty and then a drop goal in the dying minutes that would have given his side victory, handing the points to the Dublin side in the process.

Toulon kept up their unbeaten record with a win over Bristol Bears, Munster won a hard-fought clash with Saracens while Stade Francais’ 45-35 win over Northampton Saints may make the Loftus clash a lot spicier this coming weekend.

But with seven teams already qualified, the remaining nine spots will go down to the wire this weekend, with several intriguing prospects - including the two involving South Africa’s hopes of a playoff spot.

Round 3 results:
Glasgow Warriors 29 Racing 92 19
DHL Stormers 40 Sale Sharks 0
Exeter Chiefs 17 Bordeaux-Begles 69
Hollywoodbets Sharks 8 Stade Toulousain 20
Munster 17 Saracens 12
Stade Francais 45 Northampton Saints 35
Leicester Tigers 38 Ulster 10
Castres Olympique 49 Vodacom Bulls 10
RC Toulon 33 Harlequins 21
Stade Rochelais 14 Leinster 16
Bristol Bears 35 Benetton 29
Bath 40 ASM Clermont Auvergen 21

Round 4 fixtures (SA times):

Friday, 17 January:
22h00: Ulster vs Exeter Chiefs

Saturday, 18 January:
15h00: Vodacom Bulls vs Stade Francais
17h15: Northampton Saints vs Munster
17h15: ASM Clermont Auvergne vs Bristol Bears
19h30: Benetton vs Stade Rochelais
19h30: Leinster vs Bath
22h00: Harlequins vs Glasgow Warriors
22h00: Racing 92 vs DHL Stormers

Sunday, 19 January:
15h00: Bordeaux-Begles vs Hollywoodbets Sharks
17h15: Saracens vs Castres Olympique
17h15: Stade Toulousain vs Leicester Tigers
19h30: Sale Sharks vs RC Toulon